Web Design

[Princess_Puddles]

I have always been interested in this, now i'm a Mum i cannot go to college but am wondering how those of you on here managed to get into it and do you have to have qualifications?

 

[paddypuma]

I used to know nothing about Web Design a few years ago but I've learned so much from the internet.

There are so many tutorials and free courses you can do, it's just a matter of finding them (if I can remember some that I've done i'll post them here)

Google 'learn HTML' and that should bring up a few places to start. Once you start learning about html, download some free website templates and have a go at editing them If you want to pay for a course, there are LOADS of places that offer training that you can do at home. It's all about googling!

You don't really have to have any qualifications to be a freelance web designer, you just need a portfolio to get started. You'd need to put in a bit of work for free, but once you've done a few site, you could set up your own little business.

Good luck

 

[mum2A&L]

everything adam knows he taught himself. He did a few freebie sites for people, and has redesigned his own countless times so he can have a play with that.

i agree though, i tend to play with templates and re work them.

our current charity we are making a site for it a charity in africa

 

[tracyM]

I'm not a web designer any more, but it's how I started out 7 years ago.

Any courses which colleges do are out of date, you're better off learning what you need on the internet - it's all out there for free. Start with HTML and CSS (get a good grasp of handcoding BEFORE using a wysiwyg editor)

Build up a portfolio by doing freebie sites for friends, then move onto small businesses in your local area. Most work ends up coming in through word of mouth, so as you get more work in, increase your prices.

It's not just about being a web designer - you also need to be able to sell, keep on top of your admin and motivate yourself to work (it's VERY easy to get sidetracked working from home when you don't have a boss breathing down your neck all the time).

If you want to make serious money at it, pick a niche and specialise. The market for web designers building a layout in photoshop then cropping into dreamweaver is saturated - unless you have something to stand out from the crowd, you'll be lucky to earn minumum wage.

 

[Misslarue]

Just to add on what tracyM said really..........

I started working for my OH's software company 5 years ago and am pretty much self taught. I set up my own design company last year and even with 5 years experience (and a programmer at my disposal) I still find it hard to make a regular living. You will need a good understanding of HTML and then like Tracey said pick a niche and specialise. It will also benefit you to learn Photoshop or similar so that you can add logo/adverts/etc to your business.

If your starting from starch with time to learn and you want to make some serious money, then I suggest computer programming. That's where the moneys at.